Machines & Maintenance

By Taylor Shewbirt

If you work on large acreage or farmland long enough, you learn quickly that equipment either earns its place or it doesn’ t.

This perspective comes from actual use— not spec sheets. I’ ve spent years working with equipment in high-pressure environments, from the U. S. Air Force to rescue-focused fire service and now healthcare. I’ ve also spent a lot of time operating heavy equipment and working on rural properties.

Around our place in rural Alabama and neighboring cattle farm, equipment gets used for actual work: checking fence lines, hauling supplies, moving through mud, storm cleanup and covering acreage. That ' s the lens this review comes from.

First Impressions

The Polaris Sportsman 6x6 570 immediately looks purposebuilt. The six-wheel design and stretched frame make it look more like a utility machine than a recreational ATV.

That matters because many producers aren ' t looking for something flashy. They want something that feels capable from the start— and this one does.

It looks like equipment meant to work.

Getting Around Larger Properties

One thing that stood out immediately was maneuverability.

For larger operations, you ' re constantly moving through different environments: pasture, woods, gates, creek crossings, feeding areas, trails and fence lines. Larger equipment has its place, but there are plenty of situations where a tractor or sideby-side can simply feel oversized.

The 6x6 moved through tighter areas surprisingly well and felt easy to place where needed. Working around wooded sections and fence lines felt natural rather than cumbersome.

That kind of mobility saved me time while working in tighter areas on our property.

Mud, Hills, Wet Ground & Real Conditions

We ran it through hills, flat pasture, woods, mud, wet grass and mixed terrain. Traction is where this machine starts separating itself. The six-wheel setup noticeably helps on softer ground. Wet grass and mud never felt like situations where momentum had to save you. It stayed planted and kept pulling.

Hill performance was also impressive. It maintained power climbing grades and never felt underpowered.

One thing worth noting: if you ' re dropping into steeper creek crossings or ditches, slowing down matters. The front end can dip more than expected if you come in aggressively.

Not necessarily a flaw, just something to take a mental note of.

12 | 800-247-2000 | 515-955-1600 | June 2026